ONGC shocks leader Dempo SC

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) shocked leader and defending champion Dempo Sporting Club, Goa, 3-1 in the sixth round of the I-League football tournament at the Ambedkar Stadium here on Friday.

Leading by a fortuitous goal in the first half, ONGC was able to dominate the proceedings against a strong team, and showed a lot of character to hold on to the advantage and win in a convincing fashion, after Dempo pulled one back midway through the second half.

With three points from the match, ONGC took its tally to five and Dempo 13 points.

Sohrabuddin Mollick struck the first blow in the 12th minute with an opportunistic tap, after goalkeeper Subhasish Chowdhury had allowed the ball to trickle out of his grasp on the ground after he had collected a shot by Kailash Patil.

ONGC could have added another goal but for Sohrabuddin missing a golden chance following another defensive lapse by Dempo.

The Goan side did press for the equaliser, but Ryuji Sueoka found the crossbar once and shot over the next time, while a crisp half-volley by Romeo Fernandes skimmed over the bar.

Spectacular goal

Into the second half, ONGC consolidated its position with a spectacular strike by skipper Jatin Singh Bisht, whose top of the box shot cruised into the net in the 12th minute.

It was a morale-booster for ONGC as the hard-working Yusa Katsumi had shot wide a few minutes earlier.

Dempo was able to strike back four minutes later, when Peter Carvalho flicked a left-footer home following a free-kick by Clifford Miranda.

ONGC signed off in style, as the livewire Eric Brown smashed a left-footer into the goal after hoodwinking defender Rowilson Rodrigues, with 20 seconds left on the clock for the final whistle during the four minutes of injury time.